Now Commenting On:

Trout out of starting lineup with sore right pinkie

Trout out of starting lineup with sore right pinkie

CLEVELAND -- A sore right pinkie finger scratched Mike Trout from the top of the Angels' starting lineup on Monday, marking the first time he hasn't started since May 7 -- a stretch of 49 games.

Trout jammed the pinkie while sliding headfirst into second base with a leadoff double on Sunday. He stayed in the game, and hit a critical eighth-inning solo homer in the Angels' 10-6 win, but felt soreness while taking pregame batting practice at Progressive Field on Monday.

The 20-year-old outfielder had X-rays on the pinkie, which came back negative, and appeared as an eighth-inning pinch-runner and stayed in the game in left field in Monday's 3-0 win over the Indians.

"Usually during the game, adrenaline gets through it, doesn't give it a chance to get stiff, but overnight, it'll stiffen," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia before Monday's series opener.

Shortstop Erick Aybar took Trout's place in the leadoff spot against righty Ubaldo Jimenez, with Peter Bourjos playing center field and batting eighth.

Trout, named as a reserve for the July 10 All-Star Game in Kansas City, came into the week leading the American League in batting average (.339) and steals (22), while hitting nine homers and posting a .395 on-base percentage since his April 28 call to the big leagues -- which came after a game in Cleveland.

Prior to the game, Trout was named AL Rookie of the Month for the second straight month.